Washboard



Patented Aug. i4, i923..`

narran salirse WASHBOAR-D.

Application ined :rune 7,

ToY @ZZ whom t may con-cem: 4

Be it knoWn that DEANE D. LENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and StateY of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful improvements in `iiashboards, of Vwhich Vthe following is a specication.

The present invention relates in general to laundry appliances,and more particularly to a Washboard which' is provided With a v rubbing body formed of" some resilient material, such as rubber.

VAmong the objects ,of the invention is to provide a resilient rubbing body ior Wash- Yboards which presents a rubbing surface adapted to act in a most effective manner upon the clothes tor loosening and removing the dirt With a minimum'arnount of Wear and tear upon theV clothes, which can be rinly anchored or secured in position in the Washboard frame so` that it is not liable to come out of place -When in use, and which also ,embodies novel features of construction, whereby all possibility of Water or soap suds getting underthe rubbing body and causing the same to bulge is avoided. Y

Washboards are'usually constructed With metal rubbing surfaces, although these are objectionable because of the fact that the metal quickly corrodcs or rusts, with the resultrthat jagged edges are often present? ed unexpectedly and the clothes torn or damaged by catching thereon, or the hands of the operator cutor injured by .coming into contact therewith. To a certain extent Washboards have also been made with glass rubbing bodies,` although these are open to the objection that glass is a brittle material, which is easily chipped andfivhich, is completely broken or shattered by a fall. A rubbing body formed of some resilient material, such as rubber does not have these objectionable features. The clothes are readily cleansed Without any undue Wear and tear thereon, there is no possibility of sharp and jagged edges being unexpectedly presented, and at thesaine time the rubbing body isof a durable character and comparatively ineXpensive to produce.

F or illustrative purposes one particular embodiment of the invention Will be shown and described in detail, although it must be understood that many modifications and changes can bemade in the details of con- 1922. Serial No. 566,564.

struction, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For a ull'understanding oi: the invention, reference is to 'be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in Which: i

Figure l is a perspective vierv of a washboard constructed in accordance with the invention.

VFigure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same.

Figure' is a rear view of a portion of the rubbing body.

Figure l is a transverse sectional view through a portion of the rubbing body, taken on the line 4%4 of F ig. 3. i

Figure '5 is a transverse sectional vievv through one side of the Washboard, taken on thcline 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are reier to in the following description, and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

ln carrying out the invention l contemplate the use o1 some standard construction of Washboard frame, such as that illustrated on the drawings. This frame comprises the usual side pieces l, Which are connected their upper ends by a top 2, and at a point spaced 'from their lower ends by a cross bar 3. The portionsof the side pieces which entend downwardly belovvT the cross bar 3 pro-V vide the Ausual legs upon which the Washboard is supported when inv use. The rubbing body 4l is mounted upon the Washboard frame, and positioned VVbetween the lower cross bar 3 and an upper cross bar 5 which forms the soap rest. Each of the side pieces l has the inner tace thereoie snitably recessed at 6 to receive the ends of the cross bars 3 and 5. These recesses 6 are connected by a groove 7 which receives the sides of the rubbing body, and a groove 8 extends upwardly troni the upper recess G for the reception oi the brand board 9. The top 2 is connected by Vsuitable and conventional joints 10 to the upper ends of the side pieces l, both the top and the upper cross bar being provided with grooves whichl correspond to the groove S of the side pieces and Vwhich receive the corresponding edges of the brand board9. lt may also be noted that the upper cross bar 5 is provided with a series of diagonally disyposed drain openings il whichwill discharge any water or soap suds which might accumulate in the Vsoap receiving,` pocket at the top of the washboard upon the front of the rubbing body.

rllhe rubbing body -l is formed of some resilient material such as rubber. This rubber body may have a reinforcement 120i' fabric or other suitable material, and the outer surface of the rubbing body is roughened so that it will act upon the clothes in the proper manner to loosen and remove the dirt therefrom. The rubbing;- surface is shown as comprising a series of transversely extending ribs or serrations 13, and these ribs preferably have a substantially u shaped cross section so that they present comparatively sharp edges to the clothes. T his form of ruliibing surface operates in a. very eflieient manner, and owing to the resiliency of the r ateri al there is no danger of injuring; the clothes or cutting` the hands of the operator. Y

The rubbing' body, being forn'ied of resilient material`r is of a flexible character, and it is accordinggiy important that it be iirmly se cured to the vframe and anchored in position therein, so that there will be no liability of the rubbing` element working loose and coming out of place while the washboard is in use. lilith this consideration in mind, the rubbing body is formed with a rearwardly critendingr marginal .flange lil, which extends completely around the bottom or baclr board l5 which supports the rubbine; body. This back board may be formed in three ormore sections, as illustrated, the sections thereof extending` transversely be-V tween the sidepieces l and connecting the latter. The grooved portions 7 of the side pieces are sufficiently deep to receive the marginal flanges le of the rubbing; body, and enable the ends of the bottom boards to obtain a bearing' therein. lt will also be noted that the cross bars 3 and 5 are suitably channeled at i6 to receive the upper and lowr edges of the rubbing body, said'ehanneled portions being` also suilicie-ntly deep to-receive the corresponding` edges of the bacl board l5. The sides and ends of the rubbingr body i are thus all received within grooved portions of the washlfioard frame, and the marginal flange l5 is arranged to interlock with the frame members and back board, so that the rubbing,r body is iirmly anchored in position. The Varrangement may be such that when the parts are assembled the marginal flange will be gripped and slightly compressed by the members between which it is interposed. Not only does this: flange result in enablingthe rubbing body to be iiriily secured to the frame or anchored in position thereon, but it also .renders it praetieally impossible for any water or soap suds to run down and enter the space between the rubbing; element and back board in such a manner as to cause an objectionable bulging of portions of the rubbing body.

The washboard frame is of a standard or conventionaltype, and no claim` to novelty is'based uponV the fra-me itself. By the present invention a rubbing body of rubber or of some resilient composition of anequivalent nature is adapted to be applied to the standard washboard frame and lirmly secured or anchored in position therein, so

that there will be no danger of the rubbing' body becoming loose and dropping-out of position when thet washboard .is inV use. This resilient rubbing body produces a washA board of highly increased e'liiciency, which can be manufactured at. a compara-tively small cost, which is long-lived in its usefulness, and which is at the same time of a clean and sanitary character. f

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

in a washboard of the character described, the combination with a frame of a standard type comprising side pieces and upper and lower cross bars connected to said side pieces,V

the side pieces and cross bars being provided wi th grooves to receive a rubbing body, aresilient rubber rubbing body formed with marginal edge lflanges proj ecting` rearwardly there-V from, and a baclboard disposed between the side pieces and cross bars and having its edges seated on the said side pieces so as to support said rubbing body, edge. portions of the baclrboard being; engaged with the said rearwardly projecting marginal flanges of the rubbing' body so that the fianges lie be yond the edges and are secured thereby in the `grooves` the said edges of the backboard forming abutments engaging withV the flanges and cooperating;` with the walls of' the grooves to prevent displacement or shifting of the rubber rubbing;a body relative to the baekboard'andsaid side pieces and cross bars.

ln testimony whereof l ailix my signature.

nimma D. mannen. Y 

